The Research

Science and applications of ultra-powerful light

Laser-accelerated protons for cancer therapy

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds us to accelerate protons with lasers for the treatment of cancer. Protons do not damage healthy tissue the way x-rays do.

Movies of ultrafast chemical reactions

The Department of Engergy (DOE) funds us to develop pulses that are so brief in time that they can be used to freeze the motion of atoms and molecules. Doc Edgerton, a UNL alum, froze the motion of a much larger object, a bouncing ball with a much slower camera flash.

Detection of cracks in turbine blades to prevent aircraft failure

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) funds us to develop radiation sources that can be used to diagnose cracks in turbine blades before they can lead to catastrophic jet engine failure. The only alternative is to use a synchrotron light source, which is the size of the UNL City Campus.

Novel radiation sources

Radiation emitted from the laser focus spans the entire spectrum and has numerous applications in science, medicine, defense and security.